Well, the government
finally named you as a suspect, so I guess it's fair to talk about you now.

Thought you had us,
didn't you? What a laugh! You did more to unify this country than George
Washington.

See, we Americans
had gotten sort of distracted. We worried about things like lockboxes,
taxes, and who was committing hanky panky with whom. We were too stressed
to reach out to one another, to sit down and talk with our kids, to call
our spouses at work and tell them we loved them. We were MUCH too busy
to even think about giving blood or going to the hardware store to buy
and hang an American flag.

You changed all that,
Osama, you and your gang of creeps. I met my neighbors in the park across
the street tonight. We talked quietly while everybody gathered. Then we
lit our candles, and just stood there silently, holding them. Without
anybody saying anything, we walked back to our neighborhood, and set them
on our doorsteps. They are still burning. You will never be able to put
them out.

See, Osama?
You think you get ticked off when someone messes with your culture, your
beliefs, your country? Just wait a minute, you flea bitten, miserable
excuse for human DNA! You haven't seen anything like the anger of a MOTHER
whose son has to go off to defend their homeland against your cowardice
and hatred. You haven't seen anything like the WIFE of a fireman, policeman,
or EMT who clings to hope wondering if he'll ever return from trying to
help his fellow man in your moment of destruction.

You haven't
seen anything like the WOMAN who will keep her family, and her neighbor's
family, and her best friend's family, and country's family going when hope
and energy falls low. You haven't seen anything like the good OLE GIRL who
weeps tears of agony for families she's never known or never will meet, just
because she cares.

You think the
American MEN are bad? You just better thank your lucky stars that you aren't
dealing with one of us American WOMEN right now. Trust me, the men are the
ones showing restraint. I have heard the best ideas of just how graphically
you need to be disposed of lately in the beauty shop, nail salon, and the
grocery store lines.

I've had more
meaningful conversations with my teenager this week than in the last couple
of years combined. Tonight I was driving her to a friend's house when the
voice of Lee Greenwood came over the radio singing, "I'm Proud to Be an
American". We were stuck in traffic, and normally we would have been
snapping at one another. She started singing along softly with the radio.
I joined in. By the second verse, we were singing at the top of our voices,
with the windows rolled down. People stuck in traffic on either side of
us joined in. By the time we were finally able to move a little, perfect
strangers were wiping their eyes, blowing their horns, and shouting good
wishes to one another.

I hung an American
flag on my house yesterday for the first time in my life. I'd like to
get another one, but there are no flags or anything else red, white, or
blue left in any store in this town. My daughter and I did find some
white and blue ribbon in the sewing box. Tomorrow we're going to make a
huge blue-and-white bow and fasten it to the front grille of the car.

I called my husband
at work today just to tell him I loved him. I hadn't done that for a while
- too busy, I guess. It felt wonderful. We are going to send some money
to a fund to help the victims. Tonight at the dinner table we talked
about the various charities and tried to decide which one was best.
Normally we just eat and run. It was the best dinner table conversation
we've had in a long time. We finally decided on a fund that's been set
up for the children of the rescue workers who were killed in New York
City. We'd never given much thought to appreciating all they do for us
before now.

My husband and
I are on a waiting list to give blood. It'll be awhile before our names
come up; there are over 500 people ahead of us. There's been a shortage
of blood in this area. I wouldn't be surprised if the blood donated all
across this country eventually saves more people than you killed. That
would be a fitting memorial to those who died.

We're sticking
together. Our politicians are rising to the occasion. Rudy Giuliani
and George W. Bush never looked half as statesmanlike as they have
this week. Partisan bickering? What's that? Half the Congress stood on
the steps of the Capitol the other night and sang "God Bless America".

See, Osama, you
underestimated us. And maybe for too long we've been underestimating
ourselves. This is the greatest, strongest, richest, most beautiful
country in the world. Our fire fighters, policemen, EMTs, and people like
the ones on the plane that crashed in Pennsylvania have reminded us that
we're also the bravest and most determined.

You can't destroy
us, and you can't stop us. Because we're coming, Osama.

Just thought you
oughta know. And, just to show you how good hearted we Americans are,
I will end by saying THANK YOU. Not for the lives taken, for which we
now mourn, nor for the destruction, but for instilling back into the
hearts of every American, young and old, black, white, red, or yellow,
what we always knew deep down. We are strong. We are brave.

We are ONE NATION, UNITED UNDER GOD. We will overcome this, as we have always
overcome those moments that tested our very being.

And, Osama, I say
this --- all the while asking God to forgive ME --- for I do not feel any
compassion or have any mercy on your soul, but . . . may you and all
your cowardly friends soon sit happily in those front row seats you
have reserved in Hell.